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Robert Munro, a therapist specializing in dream interpretation, awoke one morning to find himself in a dream from which he could not awaken. Experiencing first hand the limitations of his own training and theories, he must solve the puzzle of his own dream in order to break free from its bondage. In the process, he'll better understand himself, other people, and the nature of consciousness itself.
- GenresFictionLiterature
208 pages, Paperback
First published November 18, 2012
26 people are currently reading
883 people want to read
About the author
Dermot Davis
16 books50 followersDermot is an Irish writer who splits his time between Ireland and the US. His creative work encompasses varied genres and styles with a special focus on human themes and characters transformed by life experience. He is a Gold Medalist Winner in the 2015 READER'S FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARD, a SOMERSET AWARDS FIRST PLACE WINNER 2013, a First Place Winner in the 2013 USA BEST BOOK AWARDS and a Finalist in the 2013 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS. As a playwright, Dermot is a recipient of the O.Z. Whitehead Award which was co-sponsored by Irish Pen and the Society of Irish Playwrights
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
February 22, 2015
A ‘Shadow Work’ masterpiece!
This is an excellent story, exploring feelings of cynicism, blame, envy, anguish, remorse, exasperation, confusion, contempt, shame and regret arising out of the darkened, gloomy yet repressed dreams of Dr Robert Monro, a therapist who specialises in dream interpretation himself.
Everyone has shadows, developing initially in childhood as a result of cloaking our depressions as we struggle to build our self-pride. We feel incomprehensible animosity towards certain people, even loved ones, or perhaps we feel overwhelmed by an emotion such as anger, envy and shame. And we tuck these away in murky shadowed areas of the mind.
In ‘Stormy Weather’ Dermot Davis explores all of this through the dream landscape, and I particularly enjoyed the quote by lucid dreamer Stephen LaBerge; Pause now to ask yourself the following question: "Am I dreaming or awake, right now?" Be serious, really try to answer the question to the best of your ability and be ready to justify your answer.
That gave me cause to ponder, because in the book Dr Monro has a tough time differentiating between the two, and the sub-plot here is his search for emotional healing and personal transformation. He’s on a journey of self-acceptance, yet only his own subconscious comprehends this.
I may well have got all this wrong, and perhaps Davis is heading in an entirely different direction with the storyline, but I don’t think so. Even so, it’s a cracking little read, whether taken at face value or much more profoundly, and I have no hesitation in recommending it.
My only struggle is in the Star rating required. It’s better than a 4, but not quite a 5, but as I can’t give it 4.5 I’m going to opt for a 5 Star, because there are so many hidden levels in this story that it really doesn’t deserve a 4.
I’ll be watching for more work from this extremely talented author.
This is an excellent story, exploring feelings of cynicism, blame, envy, anguish, remorse, exasperation, confusion, contempt, shame and regret arising out of the darkened, gloomy yet repressed dreams of Dr Robert Monro, a therapist who specialises in dream interpretation himself.
Everyone has shadows, developing initially in childhood as a result of cloaking our depressions as we struggle to build our self-pride. We feel incomprehensible animosity towards certain people, even loved ones, or perhaps we feel overwhelmed by an emotion such as anger, envy and shame. And we tuck these away in murky shadowed areas of the mind.
In ‘Stormy Weather’ Dermot Davis explores all of this through the dream landscape, and I particularly enjoyed the quote by lucid dreamer Stephen LaBerge; Pause now to ask yourself the following question: "Am I dreaming or awake, right now?" Be serious, really try to answer the question to the best of your ability and be ready to justify your answer.
That gave me cause to ponder, because in the book Dr Monro has a tough time differentiating between the two, and the sub-plot here is his search for emotional healing and personal transformation. He’s on a journey of self-acceptance, yet only his own subconscious comprehends this.
I may well have got all this wrong, and perhaps Davis is heading in an entirely different direction with the storyline, but I don’t think so. Even so, it’s a cracking little read, whether taken at face value or much more profoundly, and I have no hesitation in recommending it.
My only struggle is in the Star rating required. It’s better than a 4, but not quite a 5, but as I can’t give it 4.5 I’m going to opt for a 5 Star, because there are so many hidden levels in this story that it really doesn’t deserve a 4.
I’ll be watching for more work from this extremely talented author.
August 14, 2016
"Stormy Weather" by Dermot Davis is a very clever and entertaining novel about Robert Munro,a psycho therapist whose life suddenly seems to unravel in front of his eyes: His son is seeing imaginary friends, his depressed wife is taking off on a holiday to Mexico and he experiences very disturbing phenomena himself.
As the lines between his own reality and a dream-like world of unexplicable experiences blurr, he realises that he needs to look deeper into his own repressed memories and issues.
No longer certain of anything he is stunned by the messages his subconscious is sending him, trying to figure out what it is telling him through his dreams and suddenly so vivid imagination.
Robert is an excellent protagonist, a pedantic theorist who is quickly out of his comfort zone. As he discovers his inner child, re-discovers his passion for music and resolves his hurt, things become clearer to him and result in a beautiful denouement.
The story, however, is much more involved than this. It includes a lot of highly intelligent conversations about psychology, analysis and self-realisation, supported by great quotes that introduce the chapters, quoting wisdom from Aristotle to Erich Fromm.
The book also presents us with charming and warm characters that counter balance the intellectual side of the book with lively and light-hearted dialogue and scenes.
The ending brings everything to a very rewarding solution.
Smart, playful, up-beat and endearing.
As the lines between his own reality and a dream-like world of unexplicable experiences blurr, he realises that he needs to look deeper into his own repressed memories and issues.
No longer certain of anything he is stunned by the messages his subconscious is sending him, trying to figure out what it is telling him through his dreams and suddenly so vivid imagination.
Robert is an excellent protagonist, a pedantic theorist who is quickly out of his comfort zone. As he discovers his inner child, re-discovers his passion for music and resolves his hurt, things become clearer to him and result in a beautiful denouement.
The story, however, is much more involved than this. It includes a lot of highly intelligent conversations about psychology, analysis and self-realisation, supported by great quotes that introduce the chapters, quoting wisdom from Aristotle to Erich Fromm.
The book also presents us with charming and warm characters that counter balance the intellectual side of the book with lively and light-hearted dialogue and scenes.
The ending brings everything to a very rewarding solution.
Smart, playful, up-beat and endearing.
March 22, 2013
I was taken in by this book right from the start, which is always a good sign. From the first couple of pages, it's a puzzle to the reader just as much to the protagonist. Dr. Robert Munro is a therapist who thinks he has all the answers, but as this compelling and thought-provoking story goes on, it becomes clear that he not only doesn't know the answers, he's not even sure what the questions are.
We follow Dr. Munro as he - and the reader - become less and less sure what's real, what's a dream, and what the difference even is. It's a testament to the author's skill that this all follows naturally, and the reader is drawn into it a little at a time until we're questioning everything right along with the protagonist.
The supporting characters are equally well-drawn and compelling, and it's clear that the author has a strong background and deep knowledge of psychology and the imagery of dreams. The prose is clear and comfortable reading, and the payoff at the end is well worth the journey to get there. I'd highly recommend this book, and will look out for Mr. Davis' other works.
We follow Dr. Munro as he - and the reader - become less and less sure what's real, what's a dream, and what the difference even is. It's a testament to the author's skill that this all follows naturally, and the reader is drawn into it a little at a time until we're questioning everything right along with the protagonist.
The supporting characters are equally well-drawn and compelling, and it's clear that the author has a strong background and deep knowledge of psychology and the imagery of dreams. The prose is clear and comfortable reading, and the payoff at the end is well worth the journey to get there. I'd highly recommend this book, and will look out for Mr. Davis' other works.
October 7, 2013
Stormy Weather by Dermot Davis is a surprising book that follows it principal character in and out of reality, into and out of dreams. These perhaps separate worlds seem to coalesce, so the reader is swept along with Robert Munro’s confusion, where frighteningly real illusions and occasional farce punctuate his tragically disintegrating life. The reader is drawn into the character’s experience, and thus shares the sensation, despite Robert remaining a distinctly third person. A direct, deceptively simple style keeps up the pace, but reflective moments offer pause for real thought.
Robert Munro is a shrink. He copes with – or should that be does not cope with? – other people’s stress, psychiatric problems, depression and delusion. He rents a space from Dr Harding, an office equipped with the tools of his trade, where he regularly assists his patients in the process of confronting their problems, a process that increasingly he seems less than able to apply to himself. Alison administers on reception. She reminds him of his appointments when his mind starts to wander. But Alison is sick, too often sick for Dr Harding’s standards, and surely she will soon get her marching orders. Dr Harding applies these same exacting standards to everyone in his establishment, and Robert’s recent behaviour has already caused concern and caught the attention. He has been scattered, to put it mildly. He has been late for appointments and has conducted consultations in the coffee bar, rather than in his office. Standards have slipped, it seems. Things have become quite slack.
And that’s because Robert is under pressure. His wife, Gail, has left him and taken Jason, their son, with her. Jason also seems to be suffering from the effects of stress. He has dreams and nightmares, but it may be his fraught father’s anxiety that he has caught. Robert has become so forgetful, it seems, that he does not remember whether he has replaced a loose floorboard or two in the house.
And the stress shows particularly when he drives. There’s a crossroads on the way to work, one of those four-lane-ends where no-one has a right of way. The behaviour, both the predictable and the less so, of other drivers invariably frustrates Robert to his core, whenever he has to negotiate such a crossing. One of these days, that crossing will surely be the death of him, especially now that his mind is often so far away.
His mind is preoccupied with a departed wife and son, a father hospitalised and in a coma, his organs failing. His secretary announces she is seriously ill and surely Dr Harding is about to push him out. But then a patient, Miss Blessing, who does not wear disguise, offers him a pill containing a concoction she swears will help. Robert takes it, and from then on he sees a world of dreams, or maybe he dreams his world. Robert finds solace in Alison’s company. And he rediscovers music, unearths the clarinet he disposed of years ago and begins to explore nostalgia. But he is not eating properly, and can’t sleep, and pills don’t seem to help…
And then? Well, after losing his own plot, spending his waking hours attacking his own dreams or being attacked by them, there comes a strange revelation that provokes thought and a change of approach. He thus finds a life changed, and perhaps it might be his own.
Stormy Weather by Dermot Davis is an easy but thought-provoking read. Via the fiction of Robert Munro, it explores the blur between dream and reality, and the gaps between experience, perception and imagination. Dermot Davis’s touch might be light, but the involvement with character his writing provides is surely profound.
Robert Munro is a shrink. He copes with – or should that be does not cope with? – other people’s stress, psychiatric problems, depression and delusion. He rents a space from Dr Harding, an office equipped with the tools of his trade, where he regularly assists his patients in the process of confronting their problems, a process that increasingly he seems less than able to apply to himself. Alison administers on reception. She reminds him of his appointments when his mind starts to wander. But Alison is sick, too often sick for Dr Harding’s standards, and surely she will soon get her marching orders. Dr Harding applies these same exacting standards to everyone in his establishment, and Robert’s recent behaviour has already caused concern and caught the attention. He has been scattered, to put it mildly. He has been late for appointments and has conducted consultations in the coffee bar, rather than in his office. Standards have slipped, it seems. Things have become quite slack.
And that’s because Robert is under pressure. His wife, Gail, has left him and taken Jason, their son, with her. Jason also seems to be suffering from the effects of stress. He has dreams and nightmares, but it may be his fraught father’s anxiety that he has caught. Robert has become so forgetful, it seems, that he does not remember whether he has replaced a loose floorboard or two in the house.
And the stress shows particularly when he drives. There’s a crossroads on the way to work, one of those four-lane-ends where no-one has a right of way. The behaviour, both the predictable and the less so, of other drivers invariably frustrates Robert to his core, whenever he has to negotiate such a crossing. One of these days, that crossing will surely be the death of him, especially now that his mind is often so far away.
His mind is preoccupied with a departed wife and son, a father hospitalised and in a coma, his organs failing. His secretary announces she is seriously ill and surely Dr Harding is about to push him out. But then a patient, Miss Blessing, who does not wear disguise, offers him a pill containing a concoction she swears will help. Robert takes it, and from then on he sees a world of dreams, or maybe he dreams his world. Robert finds solace in Alison’s company. And he rediscovers music, unearths the clarinet he disposed of years ago and begins to explore nostalgia. But he is not eating properly, and can’t sleep, and pills don’t seem to help…
And then? Well, after losing his own plot, spending his waking hours attacking his own dreams or being attacked by them, there comes a strange revelation that provokes thought and a change of approach. He thus finds a life changed, and perhaps it might be his own.
Stormy Weather by Dermot Davis is an easy but thought-provoking read. Via the fiction of Robert Munro, it explores the blur between dream and reality, and the gaps between experience, perception and imagination. Dermot Davis’s touch might be light, but the involvement with character his writing provides is surely profound.
February 1, 2015
A fairy tale for adults with enough ambiguity to keep me guessing all the way to the end. Robert is a psychologist who specializes in dream interpretation. On the surface he has a great life: luxurious house in a nice Chicago suburb, expensive cars, thriving practice. He has published a string of erudite books on his specialist subject of dreams, and even one of his patients has written her own book on dreams, drawing inspiration from their psychoanalytical sessions together. Holiday photos around his office show a happy family: Robert with Gail, his beautiful wife, and their boy, Jason.
Yet, under the thin veneer of a successful career and normal family life, deep cracks are showing. Gail has laboured in the grip of a stubborn depression for too long and, although medicated and married to the right kind of doctor, she is approaching breaking point. Ten-year old Jason still believes in imaginary friends, invisible little people who live in a Munchkin city under the house's floorboards. Robert, himself the scarred survivor of child abuse at the hands of his overly-strict father, is keenly aware of the problems but isn't sure how to fix them. When his mother summons him to the hospital, where his father is lying in a coma, Robert's nightmare begins. He's caught in a dream within a dream and, by the end of the book, the very foundation of his life has been ripped away, and he has to rebuild his whole reality out of the misty shreds of imagined events that seem, at times, more real than his mundane routine.
This story fascinated me from the start. It's intelligently written, fast-paced and yet deep and meaningful. The dialogue is lively and convincing, the characters full of nuances, and a fascinating blend of surface normality and strong individualism. Dermot Davis has a special way with characters: he offers almost no guidance, leaving the reader to imagine the physical appearance of even his main protagonists, then builds up their singular traits by way of flashbacks and present day action. Alison and Miss Blessing were lightly sketched but probably my favourites, along with poor Robert himself. Throughout the story, jazz and the healing power of music run like shiny threads that embellish the plainest fabric. The conclusion appealed to me, and beautifully rounded off a story that made me reflect on every aspect of my life.
Yet, under the thin veneer of a successful career and normal family life, deep cracks are showing. Gail has laboured in the grip of a stubborn depression for too long and, although medicated and married to the right kind of doctor, she is approaching breaking point. Ten-year old Jason still believes in imaginary friends, invisible little people who live in a Munchkin city under the house's floorboards. Robert, himself the scarred survivor of child abuse at the hands of his overly-strict father, is keenly aware of the problems but isn't sure how to fix them. When his mother summons him to the hospital, where his father is lying in a coma, Robert's nightmare begins. He's caught in a dream within a dream and, by the end of the book, the very foundation of his life has been ripped away, and he has to rebuild his whole reality out of the misty shreds of imagined events that seem, at times, more real than his mundane routine.
This story fascinated me from the start. It's intelligently written, fast-paced and yet deep and meaningful. The dialogue is lively and convincing, the characters full of nuances, and a fascinating blend of surface normality and strong individualism. Dermot Davis has a special way with characters: he offers almost no guidance, leaving the reader to imagine the physical appearance of even his main protagonists, then builds up their singular traits by way of flashbacks and present day action. Alison and Miss Blessing were lightly sketched but probably my favourites, along with poor Robert himself. Throughout the story, jazz and the healing power of music run like shiny threads that embellish the plainest fabric. The conclusion appealed to me, and beautifully rounded off a story that made me reflect on every aspect of my life.
January 4, 2016
How do we integrate our experiences as a child into our adult life – find “ourselves” and our “soul”? This is the daunting theme that Dermot Davis has chosen for his novel Stormy Weather, and which he weaves into a roller coaster ride of experiences for his main character, Robert Munro. I have to say from the start that I truly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it both for entertainment and also as a serious and “modern day” exploration of an age-old theme.
Robert Munro is “any man” – imperfect, as both a man and at his job as a therapist specializing in dream interpretation; someone who is living the “usual” routine of middle class life with senses dulled over the years to his own feelings and to those of his wife and child. The author sets this character out on a journey of discovery, and in so doing draws the reader deeper and deeper into what is and was Roberts “world.” This becomes a fantastic premise to explore the complex theme of “the nature of consciousness.”
Like all of us, Robert’s world consists not only of his daily routine, which we see first, but of his feelings/wants/desires that lay on the surface and also deep in his subconscious being. After an early reference to Alice in Wonderland, in a modern day version of this fairy tale, Robert’s subconscious is exposed, layer by layer, in segments that are increasingly bizarre if considered reality but make sense if one considers the true meaning of what it means to be human.
I liked the layout of the book into short segments with quotes about the dream world separating one “chapter” from the next. I especially liked the unpredictable nature of the book – down to the very ending, which surprised me as well. The author dealt with daunting themes in a unique and truly modern way and on so many different levels it would take a much longer review to describe each one. Despite the editing issues that I found, and the couple of sentences that seemed out of character for a therapist, I could not put this book down. With a nod to the difficulty of the task at hand, which overall I felt was well accomplished, I would rate this book 5 starts and highly recommend it.
I was given a free copy of this book for an honest review.
Robert Munro is “any man” – imperfect, as both a man and at his job as a therapist specializing in dream interpretation; someone who is living the “usual” routine of middle class life with senses dulled over the years to his own feelings and to those of his wife and child. The author sets this character out on a journey of discovery, and in so doing draws the reader deeper and deeper into what is and was Roberts “world.” This becomes a fantastic premise to explore the complex theme of “the nature of consciousness.”
Like all of us, Robert’s world consists not only of his daily routine, which we see first, but of his feelings/wants/desires that lay on the surface and also deep in his subconscious being. After an early reference to Alice in Wonderland, in a modern day version of this fairy tale, Robert’s subconscious is exposed, layer by layer, in segments that are increasingly bizarre if considered reality but make sense if one considers the true meaning of what it means to be human.
I liked the layout of the book into short segments with quotes about the dream world separating one “chapter” from the next. I especially liked the unpredictable nature of the book – down to the very ending, which surprised me as well. The author dealt with daunting themes in a unique and truly modern way and on so many different levels it would take a much longer review to describe each one. Despite the editing issues that I found, and the couple of sentences that seemed out of character for a therapist, I could not put this book down. With a nod to the difficulty of the task at hand, which overall I felt was well accomplished, I would rate this book 5 starts and highly recommend it.
I was given a free copy of this book for an honest review.
December 23, 2016
Awesome !!
April 16, 2013
Dr Robert Monro can’t tell the difference between what is a dream and what is real, which is a little ironic for a therapist who specialises in interpreting dreams. Herein lies the drama and the dry humour of this clever and concise novel.
At the start of the story Robert is full of arrogance, but as his handle on reality crumbles, so does his confidence. Robert’s painful unravelling and the convoluted path he treads to try and return to normality is described in a series of bizarre and sometimes touching scenes.
It is due to the confidence and smoothness of the writing that the author made me feel as unsettled as Robert, and therefore invested in his plight. The secondary characters are equally compelling, and while I’m no psychology graduate, I sense that the psychology is spot-on. The twist at the end is very satisfying.
At the start of the story Robert is full of arrogance, but as his handle on reality crumbles, so does his confidence. Robert’s painful unravelling and the convoluted path he treads to try and return to normality is described in a series of bizarre and sometimes touching scenes.
It is due to the confidence and smoothness of the writing that the author made me feel as unsettled as Robert, and therefore invested in his plight. The secondary characters are equally compelling, and while I’m no psychology graduate, I sense that the psychology is spot-on. The twist at the end is very satisfying.
January 15, 2014
First I would like to say that I received this book after winning a First Reads giveaway and absolutely loved it. I started it just before dinner tonight and I couldn't put it down. I was enthralled with every twist and turn and half of it I never expected, and I love when an author can put me through the mental wringer. The ending was shocking and I sat in horror for probably five minutes and promptly began telling my roommate about this book when she realized I was in shock. We then had a discussion of "what if one of us is simply dreaming right now" which freaked us out and enthralled us at the same time. My advice: go and get this book, sit down with tea for an evening and read it straight through, you won't regret it!
April 22, 2013
From the first few pages I was drawn into the lives of the Munros and the family dynamic affecting their harmony. This book keeps the reader enthralled as it takes one twist after another leaving one wondering what is truly reality. Not only does "Stormy Weather" present an interesting, entertaining story, it teaches a wonderful life lesson is a series of events that keeps the reader captivated and enthralled.
April 11, 2013
I loved this book from the very first page. Not only is it well-written, but it's just great storytelling. In spite of it's magical, fantastical twists and turns, the characters and their thoughts and experiences are relatable. Who doesn't have buried traumas? This is a spiritual, inspiring, uplifting story that quite honestly, deserves to be a movie.
July 8, 2014
I was fortunate enough to win a copy of this book and I must say I couldn't put it down. It grabbed my attention almost from the start and I HAD TO KNOW where this was going! This book is not very long and is an easy read. I think it took me only a few hours to finish. I have already recommended this book to my co-workers and will most likely read it again myself.
December 17, 2015
Not even close to what I expected...
...but so much better. This story had a unique atmosphere, and storyline. It was a bit slow at first, but it soon redeemed itself. It was creative, and completely different from anything else I've read. If you're looking for something odd, and a bit whimsical, this might just be what you're looking for.
...but so much better. This story had a unique atmosphere, and storyline. It was a bit slow at first, but it soon redeemed itself. It was creative, and completely different from anything else I've read. If you're looking for something odd, and a bit whimsical, this might just be what you're looking for.
June 12, 2013
I was quite awed with this book... and the outcome really astonished me when I came to the end of the story.. I won’t say anything more not to spoil the book for you… but I would recommend it highly… it was a good story and a great ending… what more could you ask for…?
November 27, 2015
Bravo to Dermot Davis for getting me all the way to a surprise ending without giving it away. Well done, in-depth characterization, detailed story, and satisfying ending. I did have to push a little to get through a confusing beginning.
August 17, 2015
A cleverly written and entertaining book about a dream therapist's dreams which explores our possible demons in various scenarios. The end of the book was a clever and totally unexpected surprise!
April 14, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed....
As is normal for me, I started this book whilst struggling with another. I find that if the second book catches my interest, it helps me focus and finish the 1st...I know that sounds completely nuts, but it works for me.
I don't know what attracted me to this book, maybe the title (love a good storm) it's not my usual reading matter, but I have to say, I found the subject matter intriguing. Not a (night time) dreamer myself, I tend to think of the subject of dream analysis as one that attracts people with too much money to spend, lining the pockets of over paid analysts, but if it works for you, who am I to criticise?
The book kept my attention, has twists and turns, made me think about my own relationships, but made me feel good about myself too.
Not sure who on my friends list I would recommend it too, but recommend I most certainly would.
As is normal for me, I started this book whilst struggling with another. I find that if the second book catches my interest, it helps me focus and finish the 1st...I know that sounds completely nuts, but it works for me.
I don't know what attracted me to this book, maybe the title (love a good storm) it's not my usual reading matter, but I have to say, I found the subject matter intriguing. Not a (night time) dreamer myself, I tend to think of the subject of dream analysis as one that attracts people with too much money to spend, lining the pockets of over paid analysts, but if it works for you, who am I to criticise?
The book kept my attention, has twists and turns, made me think about my own relationships, but made me feel good about myself too.
Not sure who on my friends list I would recommend it too, but recommend I most certainly would.
May 20, 2019
I loved this book. The story is slow moving at the beginning, but the language is easy enough to keep me reading and I don't regret it. While Dr. Monro finds himself between reality and dream, I was transported in a nice fantasy world, not scary one though. It let me wonder when he is going to wake up and how.
Dr Monro started as a distant man, controlled and with difficulties connecting with his wife and son. Through this adventure, he rediscovers himself, his humanity, his feelings, and resolves his childhood conflicts.
I loved how subtle this book was, with difficult and serious subjects.
Dr Monro started as a distant man, controlled and with difficulties connecting with his wife and son. Through this adventure, he rediscovers himself, his humanity, his feelings, and resolves his childhood conflicts.
I loved how subtle this book was, with difficult and serious subjects.
January 1, 2017
Being a psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapist myself, I had such high expectations for this book, but I was left completely disappointed. The main character was, aside from being surprisingly narrow, inconsistent in terms of his supposed proficiency and his professional conduct. Futhermore, although there were a few clever metaphors throughout, the fact that the writer felt the need to specifically point them out was frustrating for me. Overall, I felt like I was reading a mediocre story aimed for teenagers.
May 13, 2020
'Stormy Weather' gives profound insight into how our imagination shapes our reality. Slipping through the rotten floorboards of reality, dreams can reveal the levels of consciousness where we can take control of our perceptions. They can also reveal truths we’d rather not face. Anyone who likes Deborah Levy’s 'The Man who saw everything' is sure to enjoy 'Stormy Weather' which transcends the American dream. Worth reading for the dream quotes and the craft between them. They prompt the reader to see the connections between different levels of consciousness and our own perceptions of reality.
November 8, 2021
Dream or reality?
This story reminded me of thoughts I had as a young child about my dreams, their meaning, and how to interpret them correctly. I also occasionally thought about how we could differentiate between living in a dream state or reality. Enjoyed it.
This story reminded me of thoughts I had as a young child about my dreams, their meaning, and how to interpret them correctly. I also occasionally thought about how we could differentiate between living in a dream state or reality. Enjoyed it.
February 21, 2018
Good book. Ending was a bit disappointing
I very much enjoyed the book. The ending seemed rushed. Well, I was expecting more from the ending. Quick read.
I very much enjoyed the book. The ending seemed rushed. Well, I was expecting more from the ending. Quick read.
January 30, 2018
It was an interesting plot to read..
February 27, 2021
Dream vs waking life.
March 4, 2022
The psychology of dreams ~ was an interesting and fun read (despite some jarring grammatical errors).
Emphasised the importance of dreams and dealing with your traumas.
Emphasised the importance of dreams and dealing with your traumas.
November 2, 2014
Short Summary:
This story follows Robert, a Dream-Psychologist. Robert profession allows him to help patients through interpreting their dreams. One of his patients is going to turn his entire understanding of dreams upside down. Roberts waking and dreaming life will never be the same again.
Positive Critiques:
* The story follows elements of dreams very well.
* Very comedic events in Robert's office!
* An easy read.
* This story would make a great movie! (I glanced at the author's bio. It said he is a play-writer. I would definitely see this as a play!)
Negative Critiques:
* The author is still developing his style of writing. At the beginning of the story, I didn't know who was the protagonist--Robert, his wife, or their son. I really thought the story was going to follow the wife at first.
* A unique style for denoting a change in chapters. At first, I thought there were no chapters in this book. (And/Or) It was just horribly edited. I've come to realize the chapters were denoted by a reference to a new quote about dreams. I should have made this connection quicker. But I went four or five 'chapters' before I realized they were chapters.
* Poor editing. I am calling the kettle black on this critique, but... Twice I came across sentences with double word placement. IE: "The dog is is brown". Also, some sentence structure was poorly put together. Some sentences sounded funny (again, I'm calling the kettle black, I know).
* I once listened to NPR where they were critiquing books. The host quoted an 1800's French author who said something along the lines of "As an author, you are to give your readers tools to get through the book. If you require your reader to carry a heavy and cumbersome tool up a hill, you better make the reader use the tool at the end, or otherwise, your reader will be infuriated at you."
Paralleling this same principal, the author of Stormy Weather brought in a character at Robert's office who made it difficult to for Robert to see his patients in his office. Towards the end of the book, this character goes away. Robert thought something along the lines of, "That's curious, I'll have investigate why he left at a later time". Well, by the end of the book, Robert did not go back to investigate. So I'm left a little bit angry at the author for not tying up this loose end, just as the NPR host quoted the French Author.
My General Thoughts:
I used to be an avid dream-journalist. I once had a dream that was so moving, it changed how I looked at certain events in life--much like Robert. I could really relate to his character. It's rare for me to come across a fictional book where the author dives deep into the realm of dreams. With my real life connection to dreams, I absolutely could not pass this book up.
Because of my love for dreams, I'm a little biased in rating this book. Given the poor sentence structure and grammatical errors I seldom came across and the abandoned events in the story, I feel inclined to only give one or two stars. However, the story line was great. I enjoyed watching Robert rediscover himself--his upward mobility by his soul. The book encompassed elements of dreams very well. I can give no less than four stars.
This story follows Robert, a Dream-Psychologist. Robert profession allows him to help patients through interpreting their dreams. One of his patients is going to turn his entire understanding of dreams upside down. Roberts waking and dreaming life will never be the same again.
Positive Critiques:
* The story follows elements of dreams very well.
* Very comedic events in Robert's office!
* An easy read.
* This story would make a great movie! (I glanced at the author's bio. It said he is a play-writer. I would definitely see this as a play!)
Negative Critiques:
* The author is still developing his style of writing. At the beginning of the story, I didn't know who was the protagonist--Robert, his wife, or their son. I really thought the story was going to follow the wife at first.
* A unique style for denoting a change in chapters. At first, I thought there were no chapters in this book. (And/Or) It was just horribly edited. I've come to realize the chapters were denoted by a reference to a new quote about dreams. I should have made this connection quicker. But I went four or five 'chapters' before I realized they were chapters.
* Poor editing. I am calling the kettle black on this critique, but... Twice I came across sentences with double word placement. IE: "The dog is is brown". Also, some sentence structure was poorly put together. Some sentences sounded funny (again, I'm calling the kettle black, I know).
* I once listened to NPR where they were critiquing books. The host quoted an 1800's French author who said something along the lines of "As an author, you are to give your readers tools to get through the book. If you require your reader to carry a heavy and cumbersome tool up a hill, you better make the reader use the tool at the end, or otherwise, your reader will be infuriated at you."
Paralleling this same principal, the author of Stormy Weather brought in a character at Robert's office who made it difficult to for Robert to see his patients in his office. Towards the end of the book, this character goes away. Robert thought something along the lines of, "That's curious, I'll have investigate why he left at a later time". Well, by the end of the book, Robert did not go back to investigate. So I'm left a little bit angry at the author for not tying up this loose end, just as the NPR host quoted the French Author.
My General Thoughts:
I used to be an avid dream-journalist. I once had a dream that was so moving, it changed how I looked at certain events in life--much like Robert. I could really relate to his character. It's rare for me to come across a fictional book where the author dives deep into the realm of dreams. With my real life connection to dreams, I absolutely could not pass this book up.
Because of my love for dreams, I'm a little biased in rating this book. Given the poor sentence structure and grammatical errors I seldom came across and the abandoned events in the story, I feel inclined to only give one or two stars. However, the story line was great. I enjoyed watching Robert rediscover himself--his upward mobility by his soul. The book encompassed elements of dreams very well. I can give no less than four stars.
January 11, 2016
Stormy Weather is about a psychiatrist who specializes in dream interpretation. He has anger issues and seems to be emotionally abusive to his wife and son. As a result, his marriage is falling apart. During a session with one of his clients, he takes a strange powder to relieve his headache and begins to have hallucinations which are indicative of his own unresolved issues.
I liked the concept, but the book fell short of my expectations. The writing was good, and plot imaginative. However, the story did not keep my interest and some of Robert’s reactions seemed completely out of character, such as when he runs, screaming, down the crowded street because he believes dragons are chasing him. As a grown adult, especially one who is trained in psychiatry and is fully aware that he has recently been having hallucinations, I have a very difficult time believing he wouldn’t have realized that the “dragons” were just another delusion of his, and that he would instead run away screaming, especially considering he was right in the middle of a session with one of his clients! It wasn’t just unrealistic, but downright silly.
At another point, in the middle of the waiting room, in full view of his receptionist, colleagues, and any client that may walk in, he begins loudly arguing with another figment of his imagination (one he knows full well is a hallucination), going so far as to try to choke him out.
For most of the story Robert believes that he is hallucinating and that the person he is trying to choke or the dragons he is running from are just figments of his imagination. As a professional psychiatrist, he would either seek help through medication (since he is known for liberally prescribing pills to many of his clients, even his own wife!) or at the very least, he would attempt to interact with his hallucinations subtly so the other doctors and clients at his practice wouldn’t notice. Not running around screaming and choking invisible characters. It just did not seem to be in line with his character. Scenes like these were just so silly and over the top they made it difficult for me to form any sort of emotional connection to Robert or his journey. I was also disappointed with the ending. I don’t want to give anything away, but I will just say that I was very disappointed in the way it turned out.
All in all, it was an interesting concept and well written, but the silly scenes kept pulling me out of the story. However, the poignant moments between Robert and his wife and son were both emotional and wrought with tension. Though I didn’t much care about Robert or his hallucinations, I kept reading because I had to know what was going to happen with his wife and son.
*I received a free copy for review purposes.
I liked the concept, but the book fell short of my expectations. The writing was good, and plot imaginative. However, the story did not keep my interest and some of Robert’s reactions seemed completely out of character, such as when he runs, screaming, down the crowded street because he believes dragons are chasing him. As a grown adult, especially one who is trained in psychiatry and is fully aware that he has recently been having hallucinations, I have a very difficult time believing he wouldn’t have realized that the “dragons” were just another delusion of his, and that he would instead run away screaming, especially considering he was right in the middle of a session with one of his clients! It wasn’t just unrealistic, but downright silly.
At another point, in the middle of the waiting room, in full view of his receptionist, colleagues, and any client that may walk in, he begins loudly arguing with another figment of his imagination (one he knows full well is a hallucination), going so far as to try to choke him out.
For most of the story Robert believes that he is hallucinating and that the person he is trying to choke or the dragons he is running from are just figments of his imagination. As a professional psychiatrist, he would either seek help through medication (since he is known for liberally prescribing pills to many of his clients, even his own wife!) or at the very least, he would attempt to interact with his hallucinations subtly so the other doctors and clients at his practice wouldn’t notice. Not running around screaming and choking invisible characters. It just did not seem to be in line with his character. Scenes like these were just so silly and over the top they made it difficult for me to form any sort of emotional connection to Robert or his journey. I was also disappointed with the ending. I don’t want to give anything away, but I will just say that I was very disappointed in the way it turned out.
All in all, it was an interesting concept and well written, but the silly scenes kept pulling me out of the story. However, the poignant moments between Robert and his wife and son were both emotional and wrought with tension. Though I didn’t much care about Robert or his hallucinations, I kept reading because I had to know what was going to happen with his wife and son.
*I received a free copy for review purposes.
March 11, 2013
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Dermot Davis' romantic comedy, "Zen and Sex." I chose this book, "Stormy Weather," without checking the description, expecting to be similarly entertained. Soon I was so confused I had to go back and read the description and reviews, trying to figure out what genre I was reading. Such was the author's clever technique that we're into the book before we figure out that the lead character, Robert, is having waking dreams. He slides from his dream world to his conscious world so seamlessly that we barely notice (which is exactly what the author intended). Half the time, we're not sure whether Robert is awake or dreaming; which raises the question, "How can we be sure which state is reality, or are they both reality?" Along the way we learn about dream interpretation and how it is an expression of the heart and emotions in a symbolic language of its own. Through his dream experiences, Robert learns about his suppressed hatred of his father, and how that has turned him into a mean person, angry at life and a bad parent, as well. In fact he is chagrined to figure out that he is treating his son, just like his father treated him. At this point, the reader has been through an emotional wringer and may be tempted to throw the book into the fireplace. However, I encourage you to read on. Your reward is coming.
Meanwhile Robert's wife and son, taking a needed break from the stress of home life, leave on a cruise vacation. Alone and terribly lonely, Robert confronts himself, and through his dreams, he comes to understand the root causes of his anger. The dreams become tools for healing. All this time Robert's father is lying in a coma. Robert can barely force himself to visit his father in a hospital. The father needs a kidney and Robert is asked to donate one. Robert wavers. Can he bring himself to forgive his father? The story goes into Robert's philosophy of life and its deeper meanings. In fact I started highlighting the themes and important phrases only to find my pages half covered with yellow. I encourage the reader to stick with it to the end. Without revealing it, I can say that I have never read a book quite like it nor a more clever surprise ending. I was completely taken in and ended up having a good laugh--at myself. Bravo to Dermot Davis. You did it! Perhaps it was a comedy, after all, and the joke's on me!
(PS Aside to the reader...do not give away the ending.)
Dorothy May Mercer :)
Meanwhile Robert's wife and son, taking a needed break from the stress of home life, leave on a cruise vacation. Alone and terribly lonely, Robert confronts himself, and through his dreams, he comes to understand the root causes of his anger. The dreams become tools for healing. All this time Robert's father is lying in a coma. Robert can barely force himself to visit his father in a hospital. The father needs a kidney and Robert is asked to donate one. Robert wavers. Can he bring himself to forgive his father? The story goes into Robert's philosophy of life and its deeper meanings. In fact I started highlighting the themes and important phrases only to find my pages half covered with yellow. I encourage the reader to stick with it to the end. Without revealing it, I can say that I have never read a book quite like it nor a more clever surprise ending. I was completely taken in and ended up having a good laugh--at myself. Bravo to Dermot Davis. You did it! Perhaps it was a comedy, after all, and the joke's on me!
(PS Aside to the reader...do not give away the ending.)
Dorothy May Mercer :)
August 21, 2014
As a psychotherapist myself with a special interest in Jungian dream interpretation, I was intrigued by the subject matter of Dermot Davis's ‘Stormy Weather’. The protagonist, Dr Robert Munro, is a psychiatrist who undergoes his own cathartic therapeutic rite of passage during the course of the novel. It isn’t immediately clear in the narrative just why his perception of reality has shifted, but gradually we come to realise that he is trapped in one of those dreams where you just can’t wake up. What is hinted at – particularly through the wonderfully thought provoking quotations with which the book is peppered – is that life itself may well be simply one of those dreams. How do we know? How can we tell? Robert falls down his own rabbit hole under the floorboards of his home – into an Alice in Wonderland hallucinogenic trance reality that takes on a weird logic of its own. Waking and sleeping during this dream merely take him to different scenarios that his unconscious mind needs to visit, in order to work through unresolved childhood trauma. In a fast-track experience that otherwise might have taken many years of psychotherapy, he eventually emerges into the daylight of what is loosely regarded by most of us as ordinary reality. As the reader we share with him the relief of discovering that this has all been a complex and creatively healing figment of his imagination – no less the rich in its impact for being so. It was a quick read – more of a long short story than a novel – and I felt it lacked depth of characterization for that reason. Although it was clever, very well written and packed with insight, it didn't leave me with much more than a smile on my face. I was only briefly touched by Robert Munro’s plight, and by its resolution. Much like the dreamlike scenario in which the book was based it remained not quite within my reach, and although I was amused I remained detached – and not entirely convinced that Robert Munro himself had truly crossed his emotional Rubicon. A longer, more profoundly plotted, involved and involving novel would have merited 5*.
January 1, 2016
Here’s the setup:
A grumpy therapist (Robert) performs inadequately at his job, and even worse in his role as father and husband. When a patient gives him an unknown pill for a headache, he's beset by strange hallucinations. These take the form of zany characters or surreal time-bending environments, and soon he's unable to separate dream from reality. Not a healthy image for a doctor. But luckily Robert is a dream interpreter, so he knows his hallucinations are indicative of personal problems. All he has to do is figure out the specific problem each hallucination represents, resolve it—and presto—life should go back to normal.
Easier said than done.
It’s a fun premise, and the novella reminds me of Christmas Carol in that we start with an unlikable protagonist and, through the seemingly supernatural, he (and we) comes to understand his life took undesirable directions that changed him from a charming guy into the grouch we see today.
I admire how the story progressively spirals deeper and deeper into bonkers-territory (So add some Wonderland + Drop Dead Fred to the Carol). The notion of a professional doctor interacting with invisible people and objects is ripe for comedy, and we get a couple very funny scenes as a result of this. But there are also heart-touching moments. A big emotional payoff at the end even gave me onion eyes.
I only wish the novel had gone through a few more edits. The great concept is clouded by writing that could use polishing/restructuring on a few fronts (sentence variety; descriptions; grammar; tone), and while I appreciated Robert’s arc, his introduction felt off. Early scenes involving him are sometimes melodramatic or cartoonish. The perspective changes are odd as well (even more so when I account for the ending, which opens up its own can of worms).
That said, Stormy Weather features memorable scenes, and smoothly rotates from absurd comedy to heartfelt tenderness, so if you’re willing to overlook the rougher aspects, you’re in for a good time.
A grumpy therapist (Robert) performs inadequately at his job, and even worse in his role as father and husband. When a patient gives him an unknown pill for a headache, he's beset by strange hallucinations. These take the form of zany characters or surreal time-bending environments, and soon he's unable to separate dream from reality. Not a healthy image for a doctor. But luckily Robert is a dream interpreter, so he knows his hallucinations are indicative of personal problems. All he has to do is figure out the specific problem each hallucination represents, resolve it—and presto—life should go back to normal.
Easier said than done.
It’s a fun premise, and the novella reminds me of Christmas Carol in that we start with an unlikable protagonist and, through the seemingly supernatural, he (and we) comes to understand his life took undesirable directions that changed him from a charming guy into the grouch we see today.
I admire how the story progressively spirals deeper and deeper into bonkers-territory (So add some Wonderland + Drop Dead Fred to the Carol). The notion of a professional doctor interacting with invisible people and objects is ripe for comedy, and we get a couple very funny scenes as a result of this. But there are also heart-touching moments. A big emotional payoff at the end even gave me onion eyes.
I only wish the novel had gone through a few more edits. The great concept is clouded by writing that could use polishing/restructuring on a few fronts (sentence variety; descriptions; grammar; tone), and while I appreciated Robert’s arc, his introduction felt off. Early scenes involving him are sometimes melodramatic or cartoonish. The perspective changes are odd as well (even more so when I account for the ending, which opens up its own can of worms).
That said, Stormy Weather features memorable scenes, and smoothly rotates from absurd comedy to heartfelt tenderness, so if you’re willing to overlook the rougher aspects, you’re in for a good time.
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